“Damn it!” Sean suddenly exploded, coming off the desk and pacing. “What the hell was she doing at Canaby’s farm?”
“Probably following us,” Devlin said.
“Now what are you going to do? For God’s sake, you can’t return her to Eastleigh now!”
Devlin sat down in a huge leather chair, stretching his legs out in front of him, glass in hand. “I’ll have to return her sooner or later.”
Sean stared, his gaze wide. “That meeting was treasonous and you know it, even if nothing has been planned. We could lose everything—and you, an officer in the navy, could wind up swinging from the nearest yardarm for this, never mind the damnable ransom you intend!”
“It’s more likely they would chop offyourhead and stick it on a pike. You’re their leader.”
“Is that funny?” Sean was disbelieving. “They are looking for hope, Devlin, and I am trying to give it to them.”
He sipped. “No, but it’s odd, isn’t it? Like father, like son.”
“And now you choose to be morbid? I will not allow a rebellion. But Devlin, you are holding Virginia against her will. She has terrible information that she could use to bring us both down.”
“What do you suggest? Should I send her to the bottom of the sea?” But Sean was right. Virginia needed to keep her mouth closed and her lips sealed, even though what she had seen looked far worse than what it was. He knew from Sean’s letters how angry and desperate their people were and that once or twice a year they held local meetings. His arrival home had precipitated this one. Even if he hadn’t been invited to attend, he would have done so. But the men were not planning an uprising. They were farmers and cotters, more interested in feeding their families than losing their lives. And while free speech was sedition in wartime Great Britain, everyone was encouraged to speak freely at these meetings. Tim McCarthy and the others had called a meeting mostly because they desperately wanted to hear what Devlin had to say. As Sean had said, they desperately needed hope.
Sean was pacing. Devlin wanted to calm his brother down. “Sean, you need not worry. I will not allow Virginia to bring the British down upon you and the others. If I have to, I will tell Virginia the truth. Our people are frustrated, angry and hungry, but we will not allow a futile armed struggle.”
Sean did not appear reassured. “I do not think Virginia is in the mood to listen to anything that you might say.”
“She’ll listen,” he said, instantly grim. What had been wrong with her that afternoon? Why had she been crying?
Sean hesitated. “Devlin, I have a solution, I think, as far as Virginia is concerned.”
“Pray tell.”
“One of us should marry her.”
Devlin spilled his drink.
“I’m deadly serious.”
He quickly placed the snifter on a small end table, wiping his hand on his britches. “And who is to have the honor of making Virginia a happy, loving, loyal wife? Oh, let me guess! That honor would be yours?”
“I would marry her if she were willing. But it’s not me that she wants.”
“I am not marrying that penniless American orphan, Sean,” he warned. His heart was racing with alarming speed, as if he were about to sail his ship into a hurricane.
“Why not? After all, you are the one victimizing her, and only you can make this just.”
“Are you serious?” Devlin could not get over his brother’s suggestion. It was beyond absurd. Virginia was going to Eastleigh directly upon his receiving his ransom, and if her plantation home was sold, she would undoubtedly reside in England with her family.
“I said I am. I do not wish to lose Askeaton, and you certainly do not need to lose your head.” Sean gave him a grim look, then continued the pacing he had left off.
“The one thing I am not about to lose is my head,” Devlin said wryly. “Cease worrying. There will be no accusations from Miss Hughes.”
Sean stared.
Devlin didn’t like the unwavering look. “What is it?”
“If you will not marry her, then I want permission to court her.”
Devlin started.
Sean began to flush. “I know you’ve had her in bed. I could lie and say I don’t care, but I do. However, if it stops right here, I can live with that. Give me permission to court her, to win her over, to marry her.”
